A man died and his brother was seriously injured after they were trampled by a herd of around 30 cows while walking their two dogs through a field near a village.

The 66-year-old man suffered serious chest injuries and died at the scene yesterday in Turleigh, Wiltshire, while his brother, believed to be in his early 70s, was airlifted to Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital.

The brother suffered a collapsed lung and broken ribs and his wife saw the horror but escaped unharmed. Remarkably, it was the fourth cow attack in the sleepy village in the last five years.

Location: The 66-year-old man suffered serious chest injuries and died at the scene (pictured) in Turleigh, Wiltshire, while his brother, believed to be in his early 70s, was airlifted to Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital

The incident happened shortly before 12.40pm yesterday as the trio were walking on a well-known path which leads from Turleigh to a crossing over the River Avon canal.

It is a popular cut-through for walkers and ramblers leading to Avoncliff train station and the picturesque Cross Guns pub. Today the cows had been removed from the scene to a nearby field.

It is the fourth time in five years that someone has been attacked by cows in the village. Simon Dark was trampled by cows while walking his dog on a public footpath near the field in 2008.

He said: ‘I was walking my dog on a public footpath and the cows circled us. I picked her up and pushed my way through, but when I put her down again they charged at me, knocking me over.

‘I only survived because a man came out of a cottage nearby to help. He was also knocked over, and suffered a collapsed lung. The cows are getting more and more dangerous.

Map: The incident happened as the trio were walking on a well-known path which leads from Turleigh to a crossing over the River Avon canal

‘I said it was only a matter of time before someone was killed. Something needs to be done about them. It was a terrifying experience and I don’t go near any fields with cows now.’

In 2011, Winsley engineer David Billington was left with broken neck bones after being knocked over by a cow on a footpath between Avoncliff and Winsley Cricket Club.

Geraldine Ng, who owns stables which overlook the scene, said the whole village was in shock.

‘Everyone is incredibly depressed really – it is such a shock to happen so close,’ she said.

‘I can only imagine that maybe they did not know there were cows in there, because sometime there is not. It is such a beautiful and popular walk down to the pub – it’s awful what has happened.’

The next of kin have been informed and a post mortem was expected to be carried out today.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: ‘The two men were brothers and witnesses have described seeing them out walking with their two dogs.

‘The wife of the injured man was also present, but she was unhurt in the incident.’

A South Western Ambulance Service spokesman said: ‘One male patient suffered chest injuries and was declared deceased at the scene.

‘The second male’s injuries were thought to be non-life threatening but he deteriorated after complaining of pain on his left side. Two air ambulances and a land vehicle attended the incident.’

Locals said the cows who trampled the tragic 66-year-old to death belonged to farmer Brian Godwin, who either rents or owns the land where the tragedy unfolded.

It is understood he lives two miles from the field at Timothy Rise Farm, in Winsley Hill, Bath. Today a woman at the farm house would not comment.

The fields where the man was killed are bordered by Green Lane in the village of Turleigh and the Kennett and Avon canal in Bradford-on-Avon.

Ken Roberts, is proprietor of the Cross Guns canal-side pub, and said health and safety bosses had visited the fields last year.

‘It’s happened three or four times in the last three years so consequently the Health and Safety Executive have been out already before this,’ he said. ‘Dogs do aggravate the animals it seems.

‘But it has also happened to people who didn’t have dogs. It’s a beautiful area, juxtaposed by these massive animals. It’s difficult to know what should be done to stop it happening again.’

Read more: Daily Mail